What’s Wrong With You?

What’s Wrong With You?Fighting the Stigmas of Mental Health in our Communities

There have been times that many of us have said or thought to ourselves, “That ______ is crazy.”

I know I’ve thought that of some family members and friends on more than one occasion. But sometimes I really am concerned and want to know, “What’s wrong with you?”

Sometimes it’s nothing more than a person being in a bad mood, but what do you do when someone is always in a bad mood? But there could be a real issue developing or expressing itself that you should be aware of, especially when you see it as a pattern of behavior. That person could be crazy. Perhaps something is wrong with them, but they don’t know what it is so they say nothing.

How would you approach asking a loved one, whether that is a family member or friend that you think they need to see a mental health professional? It may be a psychologist, psychiatrist or even a family therapist who you believe could help them with their problems.

What if they do not think they have a problem, but see you as the problem for having the nerve to make the suggestion?

How do you properly respond to that while demonstrating your sincere concern?

They’re not going to make that conversation easy until you can help them get beyond the stigmas that are unfairly attached to mental and behavioral health therapy.

The problem doesn’t just go away. You don’t want to be the one sitting the tray of food outside the door of that Great-Uncle who now lives with you, because no one in the family wanted to bring the subject up 😀

When you begin to recognize a pattern of behavior in someone or even yourself, don’t ignore it or refuse to talk about it. Pay attention to it. Say something about it. Do something for it.

We must become aware of these things. Recognize the symptoms and mood patterns in others and yourself. Demonstrate some measure of sympathy for those who are experiencing and coping with a behavioral issue.

Everything isn’t cause for alarm. The child who is acting out because they didn’t get the toy or candy they wanted is not reason to see a psychologist. The teenager who swears up and down that you’re the one who’s crazy and storms out of the room is not reason to see a psychiatrist, unless they’re a friend and trying to keep you from visiting the local police officer or doctor, because you knocked your teenager upside the head 🙂

But if you notice a pattern of odd or behavior out of character of a loved one, love them enough to say something about it. Then have the discipline to follow-up.

We all have bad days, but recognize when there’s something really wrong. Don’t allow what others may think prevent you from enjoying your best life.